Last mission to repair the Hubble telescopeHubble space telescope discoveries have enriched our understanding of the cosmos. In this special report, you will see facts about the Hubble space telescope, discoveries it has made and what the last mission's goals are.

For their own goodFifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.

Digest

Taser accuses Tampa company in patent suit

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 12, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT

Taser International Inc., the world's largest maker of stun guns, has sued Stinger Systems Inc. of Tampa, accusing it of selling products that infringe on a patent. Taser also accused Stinger of false advertising in promoting the Stinger S-200 Dart Gun model as being safer and quicker than the Taser stun gun. The suit seeks a court order to block Stinger from selling the S-200, and halt the advertising claims. Taser also wants cash compensation. Robert Gruder, Stinger chief executive officer of Stinger, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

AirTran raises its bid for Midwest Air

Orlando-based AirTran Holdings Inc. raised its hostile bid for rival Midwest Air Group Inc. on Thursday by almost 18 percent to about $345-million in cash and stock after the regional airline rebuffed an offer last month. This time, AirTran took the offer directly to shareholders, bypassing Midwest's board of directors. "We thought we would get no more consideration than we've gotten so far. We thought we'd let the owners decide," AirTran chairman and chief executive Joe Leonard said.

China becomes No. 2 car market

China surged past Japan to become the world's No. 2 vehicle market after the United States last year as car purchases by newly affluent drivers jumped 37 percent, the Chinese auto industry association said Thursday. The announcement highlighted China's lightning evolution from a "bicycle kingdom" into a major auto market. Struggling General Motors and Ford have gotten a boost from double-digit sales growth in China and fledgling Chinese manufacturers are starting to export their own cars, trucks and SUVs.

Truck monitors may be mandatory

Some truck and bus companies may be required to install devices to determine whether drivers are staying behind the wheel too long, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Thursday. Companies that have a history of violating rules limiting driving time would have to install the recorders in their vehicles under a rule to be proposed by the agency.